PVTIME – A research team at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China has developed flexible perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells with a certified power conversion efficiency of 29.88%. This is a significant milestone for portable energy technologies. The findings, published in Nature Communications, address the long-standing challenge of balancing efficiency with mechanical durability in flexible photovoltaics.
The researchers explain that, while flexible perovskite-based solar cells are valued for their low cost and lightweight design, previous iterations have struggled with performance gaps due to issues in charge carrier transport and residual stress at material interfaces. The team revealed that achieving a uniform distribution of the perovskite phase is critical to overcoming these hurdles. By ensuring homogeneity, they enabled efficient charge transfer across textured substrates while relieving stresses at the perovskite/crystalline silicon interface.
The breakthrough device demonstrated a bending curvature of 0.44 cm⁻¹ and a steady-state efficiency of 29.2% over a 1.04 cm² area, outperforming all previously reported flexible perovskite-based photovoltaic systems. The study’s lead author noted that this technology successfully combines high efficiency with mechanical robustness, paving the way for its use in commercial applications such as portable electronics, wearable devices and integrated power systems.
Experts say the research could accelerate the adoption of flexible solar solutions, particularly in contexts where traditional rigid panels are impractical. This work highlights the potential of perovskite-silicon tandems to transform energy harvesting in mobile and IoT contexts.
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